BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Volleyball Weekly Awards for Tuesday, October 27, 2026 where Alabama State’s Kaylen Hines was named Offensive Player of the Week followed by fellow Lady Hornets, Kamrynn Clay earning Setter of the Week. Alabama A&M’s Molly Chappell was named Defensive Player of the Week and Bethune-Cookman’s Alaya Rhodes swiped Newcomer of the Week.
 
SWAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week: Kaylen Hines, Alabama State
The Senior from South Holland, Illinois led the attack for the Lady Hornets with 53 kills through three matches, including two with 20 kills. Hines totaled a .264 hitting percentage while adding 57.5 points along with two service aces. Hines leads Alabama State with 287 kills and has added 20+ kills in the last three of four matches played. As Alabama State continues make a push for the 2026 SWAC Volleyball Tournament, Hines earns her first weekly award of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Setter of the Week: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
The Junior from Saint Hedwig, Texas continues to fill the stat sheet in the assists column, totaling 142 assists through three matches averaging 11.87 assists per set. Clay leads the SWAC with 756 total assists, a No. 51 ranking in the NCAA. As Kamrynn Clay continues to lead the offense and stack her collegiate resume, she earns her fourth weekly honor of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Newcomer of the Week: Alaya Rhodes, Bethune-Cookman
The Junior from Memphis, Tennessee continues to lead the charge for the Lady Wildcats with 228 kills. Rhodes’ month of October displayed four different matches with 20+ kills, surpassing her previous season of total kills (189). Rhodes finished the weekend with 39 kills through two matches while hitting .383 and adding four service aces. Rhodes added 45.0 points and averaged 5.57 kills per set. In the match against Southern, Alaya Rhodes finished with 23 kills and 18 digs, adding her 10^th double-double of the season. Following another massive week, Rhodes adds her fifth weekly award.
 
SWAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week: Molly Chappell, Alabama A&M
The Senior from Daytona Beach, Florida added 43 digs through three matches, averaging 4.30 digs per set. Chappell’s season high was 22 digs in the win over Grambling State on October 23^rd as Alabama A&M swept past the Lady Tigers. Finding her stride as the team looks to make a run, Chappell adds 140 digs on the season and has embraced being a workhorse for the Lady Bulldogs. As Molly Chappell continues to build on her senior season, she earns her first weekly award.
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.